40 years of ongoing Entrepreneurship & Innovation

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1 40 years of ongoing Entrepreneurship & Innovation SOFIA, 14 March, 2014 Mr. Gideon Bickel, Chairman of Agrexco Carmel Ltd, Israel Bickel Enterprises & Development Ltd. Bickel Flowers Ltd. Bickel Group Export & Trade 1

2 Background & Roots Gideon Bickel, born in Israel to an Israeli mother and to a German-born father, who immigrated to Israel right after Hitler got to power.

3 Background 1944 My father, an agronomist, established a farm with a mixture of different agricultural products. Such farm was typical to those times. At the early 50 s he transferred it to a farm specialized with flowers, which were sold only to the local market.

4 During my Education Entrepreneurial Initiative # Started my B.sc studies at the faculty of Agricultural (Hebrew University), specializing in horticultural. Simultaneously, I have started my M.sc studies. My thesis work was on the gypsophila flower. The aim of the research was to find the procedure that will enable the flower to blossom year-round. This led to an export project, that gave to the state of Israel income of tens of millions of Euros each year throughout many decades.

5 Entrepreneurial Initiative # 2 Until 1973 the Israeli export of produce was under the monopoly of 2 statutorily government entities: Citrus Board & Agrexco. At the early 70 s I submitted a claim to the Supreme Court on the issue of freedom of trade. October 1973 I won the appeal for freedom of trade*. * Bickel vs. Minister of agricultural, Agrexco & Flower board.

Entrepreneurial Initiative # 3 1976 - Bickel Flowers Ltd was founded and included a modern &

6 Entrepreneurial Initiative # Bickel Flowers Ltd was founded and included a modern & large packing house for flowers. The investment was of over one million Euro (value at that time).

7 Entrepreneurial Initiative # Bickel Custom & Transportation Services Ltd, a logistic company, was established. The firm was a IATA agent for cargo (unique for that time).

8 Entrepreneurial Initiative # Acquisition of private 25 Hectare of land in Israel that included a well near Tel-Aviv. Building of 18 Hectare of modern green houses for roses, alongside with a packing house. This project was recognized as a National Project.

9 1989 National Awards Recipient of the national Kaplan Prize on "The breakthrough of flower growing for export.and contribution for making the flower sector more efficient"; Award from the Israeli Association of Chambers of Commerce for " Contribution to developing free enterprise";

10 Entrepreneurial Initiative # I have been nominated by the Israeli government to be the chairman of a national agricultural strategy committee. The committee s task was to develop strategy and recommendations to build up a new national agricultural strategy. This strategy became the state policy for generations to come. Most of the recommendations were implemented.

Entrepreneurial Initiative # 7 1991 - Winning the case at the

11 Entrepreneurial Initiative # Winning the case at the Supreme Court of Justice to cancel quotas on roses production.

12 Entrepreneurial Initiative # Acquisition of Flora a Belgium flowers auction that was a Cooperative. Through a governmental pre-rolling process, the cooperative became a Ltd firm (Such an act was a European precedent). I then turned a Cooperative with more than 500 members into a private company.

13 Entrepreneurial Initiative # Foundation of Bickel Group Trade & Export Ltd. An export company with a wide range of products: Vegetables, Fruits, Herbs, Citrus and Organic.

14 Entrepreneurial Initiative # 10 In November 2011, I acquired the governmental company Agrexco, which held lots of international brand names. the most famous brand is:

1956 Bickel Flowers Ltd 1976 Bickel Enterprises & Development Ltd.

15 To simplify the merger and acquisition procedures, let us look at the next scheme Agrexco Ltd Bickel Flowers Ltd 1976 Bickel Enterprises & Development Ltd Bickel Group export & Trade 2000 Real Estate Flowers Export Logistic IATA agent Real Estate AGEXCO CARMEL Former Bickel Group November, 2011

16 What was different following the acquisition? Why did the governmental company fail? What did I do differently? How was I able to do it? The answer is simply BUSINESS CULTURE

17 My Innovations A world breakthrough in R&D of new varieties of strawberries (taste, texture, shelf life, shape, Color, high production per plant). Foundation of a laboratory for tissues in strawberries and other products. Signing agreements with firms in different countries to distribute the new strawberry varieties.

18 Additional Activities Developing agricultural projects in: Jordan, Egypt, Ethiopia, India and other countries. Non-agricultural projects in real estate. Additional studies and degrees in other disciplines. At present, Phd studies in Haifa University on The development of produce export since 1948 until (An agricultural model for undeveloped countries is the goal of this research).

19 Mr. Gideon Bickel Emil: Tel: Mobile: Bickel Enterprises & Development Ltd. Bickel Flowers Ltd. Bickel Group Export & Trade

20 Thank You 20

21 In Pictures 21

22 Owner of World Well Known Brands Brands 22

28 Wide variety of organic products includes: Tomatoes Potatoes Capsicum Sweet potatoes. Avocados Other products. Red grapefruits

29 Carmel Innovations New varieties of Licensed strawberry: Orly, Yuval, Dandi, Sandra, etc. Basil new varieties. 29

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33 Fruit Logistica 2014

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36 Thank You 36

Turning a desert into a home

1950s Turning a desert into a home When the War of Independence ended, Israel began building a nation from scratch. It was no easy task, the country was mostly desert, had few natural resources, and was